Sunday, May 20, 2012

Ferrari 458 Spider launched – pricing starts from RM1.9 mil

The 458 Spider today joined its coupe sister, the 458 Italia, in the
local Ferrari lineup, and rolls in at a starting baseline price of RM1.9
million, going up to RM2.2 million or so depending on the level of
customisation you load on it.
The Spider, which debuted in Frankfurt
last year, is powered by a normally-aspirated, direct-injection 4.5
litre V8 with 570 cheval vapeur (CV), which translates to 562 hp at
9,000 rpm and 540 Nm at 6,000 rpm.
The mill is coupled to a dual-clutch F1 paddle-shift seven-speed
transmission with E-Diff, which integrates F1-Trac traction control and
high-performance ABS. Performance specs include a 0-100 km/h
acceleration time of under 3.4 seconds and a maximum speed of 320 km/h.
Equipped with a fully-retractable aluminium hard-top, the 458 Spider
is the world’s first sports car with this layout. It’s 25 kg lighter
than a traditional folding soft-top, and is also quieter and thermally
more efficient when raised.
Aside from taking just 14 seconds to open or close, the hard-top –
which is fully integrated into the styling of the car – was engineered
to occupy a very small space when stored, affording a generous rear
bench for luggage behind the two seats.
The Spider, which sits on 20-inch wheels and 235/35 front and 295/35
rear rubbers, has a generously-sized adjustable electric wind stop which
opens to a height that promises efficient aerodynamics, reducing
buffeting in the cockpit and enabling normal conversation to be held
even at speeds over 200 km/h.
The rear also features buttresses designed to optimise the flow of
air to the engine intakes as well as the clutch and gearbox oil
radiators.
In related news, the launch of the 458 Spider also saw the Malaysian
introduction of Ferrari Tailor-Made, a personalisation programme
developed specifically for customers wishing to make their Ferrari
unique. The service features three innovative collections – Classica,
Scuderia and Inedita, with a multitude of customisation options to be
had.